Tamoya Udon & Tempura (Plaza Singapura)

Tamoya Udon & Tempura is a casual Japanese noodle restaurant on the sixth floor of Plaza Singapura, the mall at 68 Orchard Road. It serves fresh udon, the thick wheat noodles of Japan, with tempura on the side.

The brand started in Japan in 1996 under Chef Tamotsu Kurokawa. He is known in Japan as a Sanuki udon champion. Sanuki is the old name for Kagawa Prefecture, the region best known for udon.

From Liang Court to Plaza Singapura

Tamoya's first Singapore shop was at Liang Court, where it ran for about seven years. That mall was due to close for redevelopment, so at the end of 2019 the brand opened here at Plaza Singapura. The Liang Court shop closed in January 2020. A second branch now runs at SingPost Centre on Eunos Road 8.

What to order

The noodles are made by hand every day from a blend of three flours, and Sanuki udon is known for its firm, chewy bite. The official site says the flour, the soy sauce and the bonito for the broth all come from Japan.

• Sanuki Beef Onsen Egg Udon: the best seller, with tender beef slices and a soft onsen egg in bonito broth.
• Beef Udon: a signature bowl with beef, wakame seaweed, spring onion and tempura flakes.
• Dry udon: udon served without soup, with its own section on the menu.
• Tempura: add a piece or two to your bowl, such as kakiage, a crisp fritter of mixed vegetables.

The menu also has ramen, Japanese rice bowls (don) and bento sets. These are handy if someone in your group does not want noodles.

How ordering works

Dine-in orders are placed by scanning a QR code in the shop, according to the official site. If there is a queue, the site lets you order while you wait for a seat. You can also order online for pickup or delivery.

Ordering is simple, so this is an easy lunch stop during a day of shopping.

Good to know before you go

• Budget: prices are modest for Orchard Road, so it suits families and budget travellers.
• Booking ahead: the website takes advance reservations with a pre-order.
• Membership: signing up with a mobile number earns points and vouchers.

Menus and online ordering are on the Tamoya Udon website.

Nearby

Plaza Singapura sits at the eastern end of Orchard Road and is linked to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, so it is a good first stop on a shopping walk. For more low-cost meals in the area, read our guide to cheap eats on Orchard Road.

Browse more Japanese restaurants in Singapore, or see all restaurants in Orchard and River Valley.